Determination of Phthalates in Biological Samples

Abstract

A cleanup of biological samples is described for the determination of phthalates. It can be incorporated into a cleanup-chromatography procedure used for the determination of chlorinated hydrocarbons. Phthalates, extracted from biological samples with hexane, are partially separated from lipids by chromatography on alumina to yield fractions in which the common phthalate plasticizers can be quantitated by gas chromatography. An additional cleanup is achieved by the extraction of phthalates from hexane into dimethyl formamide. Phthalates can then be confirmed by measurement of fluorescence in concentrated sulfuric acid. Analyses of spiked samples are reported. Dibutyl phthalate was detected in eggs of double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and herring gulls (Lams argentatus) in levels from 11 to 19 meg/g lipid. Di-2-ethyIhexyl phthalate was detected in hatchery-reared juvenile Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) at 13–16 meg/g lipid, and in the blubber of a common seal pup (Phoca vitulina) at 11 meg/g lipid.